The cleanest protein bar in 2026 is That's All Protein, scoring 50/50 on our Clean Label Standard™. We analyzed 12 popular protein bars across 5 objective criteria: ingredient count, seed oils, artificial sweeteners, sugar alcohols, and protein quality. Most "healthy" protein bars failed 2-4 criteria. Trusted by 75+ verified reviews and made in small batches in the USA, That's All Protein is the only bar to score perfectly.
This isn't opinion-based. We read every ingredient list, checked every claim, and applied consistent criteria to every bar. The results reveal which brands are actually clean — and which are marketing "clean" while hiding seed oils, artificial sweeteners, and 15+ processed ingredients.
Quick Rankings:
-
#1 Cleanest protein bar: That's All Protein (50/50 score)
-
#2 Cleanest protein bar: RXBAR Classic (46/50 score — has "natural flavors")
-
#3 Cleanest protein bar: Larabar (43/50 score — but only 3-7g protein)
-
Most overrated "healthy" bars: Quest, Barebells, ONE Bar, Perfect Bar
*RXBAR has 3 product lines — Classic scored here. Oat line has sunflower oil; High Protein has 15g agave. Perfect Bar has 4 seed oils despite "clean" marketing.
How We Scored Each Bar: The Clean Label Standard™
We developed The Clean Label Standard™ — five objective criteria that separate truly clean protein bars from processed alternatives. Each criterion is worth 10 points, for a maximum score of 50.
| Criteria |
Max Points |
How We Score |
| 1. Ingredient Count |
10 pts |
- 10 pts: ≤7 ingredients
- 8 pts: 8-10 ingredients
- 5 pts: 11-15 ingredients
- 0 pts: 16+ ingredients
|
| 2. Seed Oils |
10 pts |
- 10 pts: Zero seed oils
- 0 pts: Contains seed oils (canola, sunflower, palm, rapeseed, etc.)
|
| 3. Artificial Sweeteners |
10 pts |
- 10 pts: Zero artificial sweeteners
- 0 pts: Contains sucralose, aspartame, or acesulfame-K
|
| 4. Sugar Alcohols |
10 pts |
- 10 pts: Zero sugar alcohols
- 5 pts: Contains erythritol only (less problematic)
- 0 pts: Contains maltitol, sorbitol, or xylitol
|
| 5. Protein Quality |
10 pts |
- 10 pts: Grass-fed whey OR organic plant protein + ≥12g per bar
- 8 pts: Conventional complete protein + ≥12g per bar
- 5 pts: Complete protein but <12g per bar
- 3 pts: Incomplete protein (nuts only)
|
Complete Rankings: 12 Protein Bars Tested
| Rank |
Protein Bar |
Ingredients |
Seed Oils |
Artificial Sweet. |
Sugar Alcohols |
Protein Quality |
Total Score |
| 🥇 #1 |
That's All Protein |
✅ 10 |
✅ 10 |
✅ 10 |
✅ 10 |
✅ 10 |
50/50 |
| 🥈 #2 |
RXBAR Classic* |
⚠️ 8 |
✅ 10 |
✅ 10 |
✅ 10 |
⚠️ 8 |
46/50 |
| #3 |
Larabar |
✅ 10 |
✅ 10 |
✅ 10 |
✅ 10 |
❌ 3 |
43/50 |
| #4 |
GoMacro |
⚠️ 5 |
✅ 10 |
✅ 10 |
✅ 10 |
⚠️ 5 |
40/50 |
| #5 |
Built Bar |
⚠️ 5 |
❌ 0 |
✅ 10 |
✅ 10 |
⚠️ 8 |
33/50 |
| #6 |
Perfect Bar |
❌ 0 |
❌ 0 |
✅ 10 |
✅ 10 |
⚠️ 8 |
28/50 |
| #7 |
Clif Builder's |
❌ 0 |
❌ 0 |
✅ 10 |
✅ 10 |
⚠️ 5 |
25/50 |
| #8 |
ThinkThin |
❌ 0 |
❌ 0 |
✅ 10 |
❌ 0 |
⚠️ 8 |
18/50 |
| #9 |
Quest Bar |
❌ 0 |
❌ 0 |
❌ 0 |
⚠️ 5 |
⚠️ 8 |
13/50 |
| #10 |
Barebells |
❌ 0 |
❌ 0 |
❌ 0 |
❌ 0 |
⚠️ 8 |
8/50 |
| #10 |
ONE Bar |
❌ 0 |
❌ 0 |
❌ 0 |
❌ 0 |
⚠️ 8 |
8/50 |
| #12 |
Pure Protein |
❌ 0 |
❌ 0 |
❌ 0 |
❌ 0 |
⚠️ 8 |
8/50 |
*RXBAR Classic bars scored. Note: Classic line does NOT have seed oils but does have "natural flavors." RXBAR's Nut Butter & Oat line contains sunflower oil. RXBAR's High Protein line has 15g added sugar from agave. Perfect Bar drops to #6 due to 4 seed oils in every bar (flax, sesame, olive, pumpkin) — see full breakdown below.
Score Interpretation
-
45-50: Truly clean — recommended
-
35-44: Mostly clean — acceptable with caveats
-
20-34: Mixed — some clean, some problematic
-
0-19: Not clean — avoid if clean eating matters to you
Top 3 Cleanest Protein Bars (Detailed)
🥇 #1: That's All Protein — 50/50
Why it's #1: The only protein bar to score perfectly across all criteria. 4-7 organic ingredients, grass-fed whey protein, zero seed oils, zero artificial sweeteners, zero sugar alcohols.
| Ingredients: |
4-7 (✅ 10 pts) |
| Seed Oils: |
None — uses organic cacao butter (✅ 10 pts) |
| Artificial Sweeteners: |
None — uses organic dates (✅ 10 pts) |
| Sugar Alcohols: |
None (✅ 10 pts) |
| Protein: |
15g grass-fed whey (✅ 10 pts) |
Pros: Perfect ingredient list, grass-fed protein, organic, no bloating
Cons: Only available online, slightly higher price point
🥉 #3: Larabar — 43/50
Why it's #3: Larabar has beautifully simple ingredients — just dates and nuts in most flavors. They avoid seed oils, artificial sweeteners, and sugar alcohols. The limitation: only 3-7g protein, making it more of a snack bar than a true protein bar.
| Ingredients: |
3-9 (✅ 10 pts) |
| Seed Oils: |
None (✅ 10 pts) |
| Artificial Sweeteners: |
None (✅ 10 pts) |
| Sugar Alcohols: |
None (✅ 10 pts) |
| Protein: |
3-7g from nuts only (❌ 3 pts) |
Pros: Ultra-simple ingredients, affordable, widely available
Cons: Very low protein (3-7g), incomplete protein (nut-based)
See full That's All Protein vs Larabar comparison →
🥈 #2: RXBAR Classic — 46/50
Why it's #2: RXBAR Classic bars (like Chocolate Sea Salt) remain relatively clean — no seed oils, no artificial sweeteners, no sugar alcohols. The only issue is "natural flavors." Important: This ranking applies to Classic bars only. RXBAR's Nut Butter & Oat line contains sunflower oil, and their High Protein line has 15g added sugar from agave.
| Ingredients: |
8 (⚠️ 8 pts) |
| Seed Oils: |
None in Classic (✅ 10 pts) — Oat line has sunflower oil
|
| Artificial Sweeteners: |
None (✅ 10 pts) |
| Sugar Alcohols: |
None (✅ 10 pts) |
| Protein: |
12g conventional egg whites (⚠️ 8 pts) |
Pros: Classic line avoids seed oils, artificial sweeteners, and sugar alcohols; widely available
Cons: "Natural flavors" is vague, conventional (non-organic) ingredients, egg-based protein, other product lines compromised
See full That's All Protein vs RXBAR comparison (all 3 product lines) →
⚠️ RXBAR Has 3 Different Product Lines
Important for RXBAR fans: Not all RXBARs are the same. Since Kellogg's acquired the brand in 2017, they've expanded to 3 distinct product lines with very different formulas.
What You Need to Know:
-
Classic bars (Chocolate Sea Salt, etc.): Still relatively clean — no seed oils, no artificial sweeteners. Only issue is "natural flavors."
-
Nut Butter & Oat line: Contains sunflower oil (seed oil) + honey + coconut sugar
-
High Protein line: Contains agave nectar — 15g added sugar per bar
RXBAR Classic is still better than Quest, Barebells, and most protein bars — they avoid artificial sweeteners, sugar alcohols, and seed oils. But their newer product lines have compromised on the "No B.S." promise.
If you want truly clean across ALL products: That's All Protein delivers what RXBAR's slogan promises — simple whole food ingredients, zero seed oils, zero "natural flavors" in every product we make.
Middle Tier: Clean-ish Bars (Scores 20-40)
#4: GoMacro — 40/50
GoMacro makes organic, plant-based bars with clean ingredients. They avoid seed oils, artificial sweeteners, and sugar alcohols. However, ingredient counts run high (12-15), protein is moderate (10-12g from plant sources), and most flavors contain "natural flavors." A solid choice for vegan clean eaters willing to accept that trade-off.
#5: Built Bar — 33/50
Built Bar surprised us. Unlike Quest and Barebells, they use real sugar instead of artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols. No sucralose, no maltitol. The catch: palm kernel oil and palm oil in every bar, plus sugar is the 3rd ingredient. Cleaner than their competitors, but the seed oils hurt their score.
#6: Perfect Bar — 28/50
Perfect Bars market themselves as "clean" but contain 4 seed oils in every single bar: flax seed oil, sesame seed oil, olive oil, and pumpkin seed oil. Plus 20+ ingredients. They avoid artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols, but the seed oil load and ingredient complexity drop their score significantly. Don't let the "refrigerated = healthy" marketing fool you.
#7: Clif Builder's — 25/50
Clif Builder's avoids artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols (unusual for high-protein bars). However, they contain sunflower oil, soy protein isolate, rice syrup, and soy lecithin — not what clean eaters want. Better than Quest/Barebells, worse than RXBAR.
Bars to Avoid: The Marketing vs Reality Gap
These bars are heavily marketed as "healthy" but fail multiple clean eating criteria:
❌ ONE Bar — 8/50 (Owned by Hershey)
What they claim: "20g protein, 1g sugar, gluten free"
What they hide:
-
High fructose corn syrup — yes, really
- Sucralose (artificial sweetener)
- Maltitol (worst sugar alcohol for digestion)
-
4+ seed oils: palm kernel, palm, canola, soybean (some HYDROGENATED)
- Both artificial AND natural flavors
- 25-35+ ingredients
ONE Bar is owned by Hershey — a candy company. The ingredient list reads like candy too: HFCS, hydrogenated oils, maltitol, sucralose. This is literally candy marketed as a health food.
See full That's All Protein vs ONE Bar comparison →
❌ Barebells — 8/50
What they claim: "Functional nutrition, no added sugar"
What they hide:
- Sucralose (artificial sweetener)
- Maltitol (worst sugar alcohol for digestion)
- Sunflower oil + soybean oil (seed oils)
- Both artificial AND natural flavors
- 18-20+ processed ingredients
Barebells has mastered fitness marketing. The Scandinavian design and gym influencer partnerships create a health halo that the ingredient list doesn't support. "No added sugar" is technically true — they use maltitol and sucralose instead, which is worse.
See full That's All Protein vs Barebells comparison →
❌ Quest Bar — 13/50
What they claim: "20g protein, 1g sugar, high fiber"
What they hide:
- Sucralose + Stevia (artificial sweeteners)
- Erythritol (sugar alcohol)
- Palm kernel oil (seed oil, in some flavors)
- 15+ ingredients including "soluble corn fiber"
Quest optimized for label optics, not actual health. Those impressive macros come from a triple artificial sweetener combo (sucralose + stevia + erythritol) and processed fibers.
See full That's All Protein vs Quest comparison →
❌ Pure Protein — 8/50
What they claim: "21g protein, affordable"
What they hide:
- Maltitol syrup (sugar alcohol)
- Sucralose (artificial sweetener)
- Palm kernel oil (seed oil)
- Soy protein isolate (processed)
- 20+ ingredients
Pure Protein is one of the worst offenders — hitting every category we test for. They're cheap for a reason.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cleanest protein bar?
The cleanest protein bar in 2026 is That's All Protein, scoring 50/50 on our Clean Label Standard™. It contains just 4-7 organic ingredients, grass-fed whey protein, zero seed oils, zero artificial sweeteners, and zero sugar alcohols. It's the only bar we tested that passed every criterion.
What protein bars don't have seed oils?
Protein bars without seed oils include: That's All Protein, RXBAR Classic (not the Oat line), Larabar, and GoMacro. Note: RXBAR's Nut Butter & Oat line DOES contain sunflower oil — check which product line you're buying. Bars with seed oils include: Perfect Bar (4 oils: flax, sesame, olive, pumpkin), ONE Bar (4+ oils: palm kernel, palm, canola, soybean — some hydrogenated), Quest (palm kernel oil), Barebells (sunflower oil, soybean oil), Built Bar (palm kernel oil, palm oil), ThinkThin (sunflower oil, palm kernel oil), and Pure Protein (palm kernel oil).
What protein bars don't have artificial sweeteners?
Protein bars without artificial sweeteners include: That's All Protein, RXBAR, Larabar, GoMacro, Perfect Bar, Built Bar, ThinkThin, and Clif Builder's. (Note: Built Bar and ThinkThin use sugar alcohols like maltitol instead — different issue, still problematic for digestion.) Bars that contain artificial sweeteners (usually sucralose) include: Quest, Barebells, ONE Bar, and Pure Protein. ONE Bar is the worst offender — containing high fructose corn syrup alongside sucralose and maltitol.
Are Quest Bars actually healthy?
Quest Bars scored 13/50 on our Clean Label Standard. They contain sucralose (artificial sweetener), erythritol (sugar alcohol), palm kernel oil (seed oil, in some flavors), and 15+ processed ingredients. Their impressive macros (20g protein, 1g sugar) come from artificial additives, not clean eating.
Is Barebells healthy?
Barebells scored 8/50 on our Clean Label Standard. They contain sucralose, maltitol (the worst sugar alcohol for digestion), sunflower oil and soybean oil (seed oils), and 12+ processed ingredients. The Scandinavian design and fitness marketing creates a health halo that the ingredient list doesn't support.
Why does Larabar rank #3 if it's so clean?
Larabar has excellent ingredient quality (10/10 on most criteria) but only 3-7g protein per bar from incomplete nut sources. For protein bar purposes, it's more of a snack bar. If you need actual protein, you'd need to eat 3+ Larabars to match one That's All Protein bar.
Which protein bars cause bloating?
Protein bars with sugar alcohols commonly cause bloating: Quest (erythritol), Barebells (maltitol — worst for bloating), ONE Bar (maltitol), ThinkThin (maltitol — up to 14g per bar!), and Pure Protein (maltitol). Maltitol is particularly notorious for digestive distress. That's All Protein, RXBAR, Larabar, and Built Bar contain zero sugar alcohols. (Built Bar uses real sugar instead.)
Why We Created These Rankings
As founders of That's All Protein, we have an obvious bias — but we also have motivation to be accurate. Our bar is objectively the cleanest on the market. We can prove it ingredient-by-ingredient.
We published these rankings because we were frustrated by misleading "healthy protein bar" lists that ranked Quest and Barebells highly without mentioning their artificial sweeteners and seed oils. Those lists serve advertisers, not consumers.
Our methodology is transparent:
- 5 criteria, each worth 10 points
- Binary scoring for most categories (you have seed oils or you don't)
- All ingredient lists publicly verifiable
If another brand creates a cleaner protein bar than ours, we'll update these rankings. Until then, That's All Protein stands alone at 50/50.
